Vendor Writing: Jen A.

Cato: The Libertarian Hero Of The Right

BY JEN A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Cato was a Senator during the ancient Republican Roman Empire. Creating chaos among his peers so that no actual business could be conducted was the hallmark of his time in the Senate.

The Cato Institute is the libertarian think tank. That's where modern-day Cato-like individuals sit around and think about ways to destroy our liberal democracy so that they can profit from privatizing government agencies. Though once shunned by Republicans, lately their ideas of "limited government" and creating partisan chaos have been adopted by more mainstream Republicans. Our former president is a master of exploiting their ideas for fun and personal gain.

A libertarian running as a Republican in the Tennessee 5th congressional district during this election cycle was the former Tennessee Executive Director of the Koch libertarian organization. He has received 1.6 million dollars from the Cato Institute's campaign funding arm, Club for Growth. Interestingly enough, they also tout the funding of Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Is she really a Republican?

The Club for Growth outlines its policy goals as:

1. Reducing income tax rates and repealing the death tax

2. Replacing the current tax code with a fair/flat tax

3. The full repeal of Obama Care and the end of abusive lawsuits through medical malpractice/ tort reform

4. Reducing the size and scope of the federal government

5. Cutting government spending and passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the US Constitution

6. Regulatory reform and deregulation

7. Expanding school choice

They say that they don't take positions on social issues. It's simply all about the money.

As far as I can tell, all of these policies favor those with gross amounts of money and exorbitant assets. Middle-class Americans won't benefit nor will the poor. And if they succeed in repealing the Affordable Care Act and abolishing our public schools, there will be a lot of sick, suffering, uneducated Americans wandering our streets. Who can possibly believe any of these policies will move us into a better future?

Hyper-wealthy Republicans own everything in America and charge us rent to use it. They also own the companies that make all of our goods and set the prices. The unconscionable increase in inflation in America is the result of these companies price fixing for corporate gain. They could have chosen to profit a little less. But they keep jacking up prices to keep us right where they want us — hurting and dependant.

The night the libertarian/Republican who won the Republican primary for district 5 said that he wanted to get DC out of Tennessee among other things that in no way benefit everyday Tennesseans. When flood waters washed Waverly away, the citizens were grateful to have FEMA, the federal government agency that shows up when natural disasters strike. As Americans, shouldn't we come together to help? We are The United States of America. We should all be pulling together to secure our union.

It is said that Cato, after every speech he made before the Senate, repeated the phrase, "Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam," a call to destroy Carthage, knowing that the simple repetition would breed agreement. It's one of the earliest examples of illusory truth effect used effectively by politicians like the current delusional idea that the last presidential election was stolen. It's also employed by news media, advertisers, and propagandists. The repetition of a lie, makes the lie seem more believable to those who don't take the time to think rationally.

The libertarian/Republican candidate running for the district 5 seat, refuses to debate the Democrat, Heidi Campbell. He just keeps repeating the same libertarian dogma. It is my hope that the thoughtful voters of district 5 will see through his ploy and vote for someone who has actual experience solving the real problems of Middle-Tennesseans. A vote for Heidi Campbell is a vote for a better future for Tennessee women and children.

Libertarians might be big fans of the chaos that Cato brought to the Republican Roman Senate, but they seem to ignore Cato's end. It wasn't pretty. Restrictive, selfish government policies lead to dire outcomes for citizens. It was true of ancient Rome and it is true in 2022 America. Spare us all — vote Heidi Campbell!